Since the creation of the comic book, cases of legal conflict and confusion have often arisen where concepts such as public domain, unincorporated entities and moral rights are involved. As a result, comics creators are frequently concerned about whether they are protecting themselves. There are many questions and no single place to find the answers--that is, until now. Entertaining as it instructs, this book seeks to provide those answers, examining the legal history of comics and presenting information in a way that is understandable to everyone. While not seeking to provide legal advice, this book presents the legal background in plain English, and looks at the stories behind the cases. Every lawsuit has a story and every case has lessons to be learned. As these lessons are explored, the reader will learn the importance of contracts, the basics of copyright and trademark, the precautions necessary when working with public domain characters and the effects of censorship.

"Since the publication of its first edition in 2007, "The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers" has quickly become one of the best-selling legal guides for independent filmmakers. Now in its second edition, "The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers" is used as a textbook in film and law schools across the country, and graces the desks of indie filmmakers and studio executives alike. Backstage Magazine calls it "An [an] excellent, potentially career-saving resource." The book's hands-on, straightforward style demystifies the complex world of contracts and copyrights so critical to the business success of any independent film. Its revolutionary combination of graphics, cross-referencing, and step-by-step explanations have been praised by filmmakers for helping them find the information they need at a glance without having to read the book cover to cover"--

Focal Press' Pocket Lawyer series serves as a legal toolkit for independent producers and artists in the creative industries. The Pocket Lawyer for Comic Book Creators is designed to help emerging artists and veteran professionals in the comic book industry build a solid foundation of business and communication practices that they need to thrive in today's ever-changing, uncertain world of indie comics. Readers will learn to protect their copyrights, negotiate publishing deals, hire artists so everyone wins, and learn the ins and outs of key contracts with this helpful resource.

Focal Press' Pocket Lawyer series serves as a legal toolkit for independent producers and artists in the creative industries. The Pocket Lawyer for Comic Book Creators is designed to help emerging artists and veteran professionals in the comic book industry build a solid foundation of business and communication practices that they need to thrive in today's ever-changing, uncertain world of indie comics. Readers will learn to protect their copyrights, negotiate publishing deals, hire artists so everyone wins, and learn the ins and outs of key contracts with this helpful resource.

Graphic novels and comics have launched characters and stories that play a dominant role in contemporary popular culture throughout the world. The extensive revisions in this second edition of Comic Art, Creativity and the Law update the author’s analysis of important changes at the intersection of law and comics, featuring an examination of how recent cases will affect the creative process as applied to comic art.

This book provides student journalists, artists, designers, creative writers and web producers with the tools and techniques they need to tell nonfiction stories visually and graphically. Weaving together history, theory, and practical advice, seasoned nonfiction comics professors and scholars Randy Duncan, Michael Ray Taylor and David Stoddard present a hands-on approach to teach readers from a range of backgrounds how to develop and create a graphic nonfiction story from start to finish. The book offers guidance on: -how to find stories and make use of appropriate facts and visuals; -nonfiction narrative techniques; -artist's tools and techniques; -print, digital, and multimedia production; -legal and ethical considerations. Interviews with well-known nonfiction comics creators and editors discuss best practices and offer readers inspiration to begin creating their own work, and exercises at the end of each chapter encourage students to hone their skills.